Bidaai – one of the most popular serials on television today – has a very interesting gang of four comprising of Sara, Angad, Kinshuk and last but definitely not the least – Parul. Out of them, Parul definitely stands out for more reasons than one. She has the most unusual beauty, is extremely natural in front of the camera and is a very good interviewee, thanks to her humility coupled with the right attitude. Tellychakkar managed to speak to her after trying for close to a month. Excerpts from the interview:

Where did you vanish in the last month? You were completely inaccessible, which is very unlike the Parul Chauhan we know.

I have not changed a bit and am the same Parul Chauhan that everyone knows.

It's just that for the last 15 days, I have not slept for more than 4 hours a day, it has been so hectic. On one hand, there were daily shooting schedules for Bidaai and on the other hand I had to rehearse for Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa. Since I had committed for both, there was no way I could ignore any one. If you see me now, you will perhaps not recognise me. I have dark circles beneath my eyes and feel sleepy all the time. In fact, there have been many occasions in the last couple of weeks when I was on the verge of fainting. If it was not for the production guys who constantly pampered me with juices and other fluids, I would not have survived. They have arranged an ice box especially for me.

But this is just the beginning of Jhalak…The competition will get tougher with every passing day and you will need to spend more time rehearsing. How do you plan to cope with it?

To be frank with you, it is not this bad always. The last 15 days were bad because we were shooting in Kerala for Bidaai. And for a daily soap such outdoors have a tremendous impact on the schedules. Since Jhalak also came at the same time, my whole schedule was thrown off-gear.

Till now, I have never arrived late on the sets and have always abided by the call-sheets given to me by the producers. Now that this outdoor shoot for Bidaai is over, things should stabilise soon. In fact, when I first got the offer for Jhalak.. I was scared to death to broach the topic with Rajan Sir. After deliberating for almost four days I told him very tentatively about the offer. He said, and I quote, ‘If it was anyone else I would have said a firm No. Since you have come on time every day for the last one and a half years, I am sure you will continue to do so even if there are other commitments.’ This was not only a relief, but a great compliment for me as well.

But isn’t such a schedule affecting your health?

Of course it is. But as mentioned earlier, the production guys really pampered me and made sure I am up and running throughout the shoot. During every break they used to serve me coconut water, fruit juice and light food to eat.

Now I am realising how difficult it is acting in two shows simultaneously. I have come so close to fainting on the sets so many times that I have lost count. But, my grit, determination to do what I started, and friends helped me return to the sets. Even the production assistants have helped me a lot.

Jhalak is not just a dance-based reality show for me, it is a very important competition which I want to win for my parents.

Will your Bidaai gang vote for you in Jhalak…?

(smiles) Of course they will. We decided that much before Jhalak started. My vote appeal to them has already been done much in advance!

How did the shoot for the first round do?

It was a fantastic experience. To my luck, all the judges gave me good comments and I too was satisfied.

How is Deepak as a choreographer? Is he a hard taskmaster?

The promos that you see for Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa are very funny and well conceived! Somehow they show me and Deepak from a romantic angle! He is 7 years elder to me, treats me like a kid and he is teaching me right from the basic concepts. It is a fantastic experience working with him. Only after interacting with him have I realised how bad a dancer I am.

Your chemistry with Kinshuk Mahajan in Bidaai is very good. How did you manage this?

I have no clue why it is so good. I guess we are very good friends, understand each other and the same in reflected on screen. We often consult each other for different matters and have a very good understanding between ourselves.

A daily newspaper recently carried a news item of you being married…

I don’t know where they got this story from but believe me there is not an element of truth in what they have written. I have never got married till date. We hail from a Rajput family and if my parents see me marrying secretly, they will not tolerate it and perhaps kill me for such a ‘crime’.

I guess there are people who cannot tolerate my success and that is why spreading such baseless rumours.